Ingrid Bergman in the 1948 Film Joan of Arc

The second time Ingrid Bergman portrayed Joan of Arc was in 1948. Ms. Bergman had lovingly
persuaded (seduced) Victor Fleming into producing a film version of Maxwell Anderson's play. Ms.
Bergman believed in this project so much that she willing used her own
money to finance half of the
movie. Mr. Maxwell Anderson, with the help of Mr. Andrew Solt, wrote the screenplay. The
film's running time was 150 minutes. Ms. Bergman was nominated for "Best Actress" for her
performance.

Ms. Bergman spared neither time nor expense in order to make
her film historically accurate. She ordered
research done on every aspect of medieval life down to an accurate creation of medieval dog collars. She
had the armor department of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City create her armor. Instead
of being made out of heavy steel it was instead made of aluminum. Even so her armor weighted 25 lbs!

THE STORY

The plot follows the well known outlines of the career of the fifteenth century French saint, Joan of Arc. It
begins with the peasant girl, Joan, in the remote village of Domremy in Lorraine. She hears voices that tell
her to go forth and save France from the depredations of the invading English, who have taken over most
of its territory and prevented its rightful king, the Dauphin Charles VII, from achieving his coronation.

Saint Joan is sent by Robert de Baudricourt to the court of Charles VII at
Chinon. Charles,
was a worldly man who tries to trick the
Maid by hiding among his courtiers while a noble pretends to be the king. But
Joan makes her way with certainty to the real king, and he is moved by her eloquence and positivism to
recruit an army to fight the English.

Joan of Arc is placed at the head of the French army but its captains are not eager to follow her commands.

Saint Joan decides to circumvent her captains' objections by appealing directly to her soldiers.

Moved by Joan's stirring words, her soldiers agree to give up their evil ways in order that they might be
victorious in battle.

Stirred by the sight of Joan, her men and the reluctant captains rally to her side.

Saint Joan leads her troops to Orleans where the English have a death grip around the city.

"Now is the time!" Joan bravely cries to her men. The attack on the Tourelles begins!